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Our Bureau

Mumbai, Aug. 13 Bank unions are planning a one-day strike on August 20 to protest the merger of public sector banks, even as the final Government order on merger of State Bank of Saurashtra with State Bank of India is expected any time now.

A union official said three bank unions — All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) will join the strike. The other six bank unions have decided not to join the strike and are adopting a wait and watch policy.

Mr Alok Khare, President, AIBOA, said the merger of State Bank of Saurashtra with SBI is only a prelude for things to come, with the Government looking at privatisation.

The strike is expected to affect bank operations as 60,000 officers and seven lakh other employees are expected to join the strike, according to Mr K. Bhaskaran, Vice-President, AIBOA.

The unions fear that merger of banks would lead to large-scale retrenchment of employees. On the possibility of conciliation before the unions commence strike, Mr Bhaskaran said that the unions have received no invitation for talks either from the Indian Banks’ Association or from the Government.

The All India Bank Officers Confederation in State Bank of India and its associate banks has called for a strike on August 18 to protest the merger of State Bank of Saurashtra with SBI.

Mr C.H.Venkatachallam, Convenor of the United Forum of Bank Unions, said he was opposed to the decision of the government because it signalled the beginning of the process of mergersamong the public sector banks.

Asked if the strike call would not end up paralysing banking operations in the country and inconveniencing customers (in view of a strike call on August 18 by SBI officers and a holiday on August 19 for Parsi New Year day), he said that this would not happen. He said that August 19 would be a holiday only in a few places in Maharashtra and there would be very little disruption.

More Stories on : Trade & Labour Unions | Public Sector Banks

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